Introducing a new graphics card is never easy. Besides developing a memorable image of the product, the developer wants to make it unique and special. And for the user it is important to realize what features affect the device’s performance and functionality and what features are just a means to attract the customer.

In the last years graphics card makers had to promote their products while staying within the limitations imposed by the GPU architects, ATI and Nvidia. Although developing unique PCB designs and cooling systems is costly, the effort may be worthwhile as the end product will draw the spotlight to itself as well as to the brand it carries.

Basing their flagship product on the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2, people from MicroStar International took the most effective way of making it special – they made it faster. As a result, the company’s marketing department announced an unprecedented level of performance for the series at large and for the flagship in particular.

We’ll see today if the MSI R3870X2-T2D1G OC is indeed as fast as its manufacturer, the world’s major hardware supplier, claims it to be.